My impression is that Taiwanese have realized a newfound appreciation for elements of the past that almost vanished in the rush to modernize. An entire industry of painters once created posters for the movie houses of the nation—and now only a handful of veterans ply the trade. Without apprentices the trade will die with them. In all likelihood we are living in the final moments in human history when anyone can take a stroll through the busy market streets, look up, and find completely unique, hand-painted advertisements for the latest films.

Zhongyuan Theater has a much different feel after nightfall.

Hand-painted posters by night.

After dark at Zhongyuan Theater.

Chancing upon the hand-painted movie posters of Zhongyuan Theater was particularly interesting for me as I have spent much of the last year exploring more than a dozen of Taiwan’s many abandoned theaters—including three in Zhōnglì 中壢 alone. Zhongyuan is a living memory of what all those other theaters once looked like: bustling with activity and adorned with original representations of the audiovisual journeys available within. Film was one of the primary forms of mass entertainment in Taiwan going as far back as Japanese colonial times and, as such, it occupies a special place in collective memory. Zhongyuan Theater is one of Taiwan’s last remaining motion picture temples still in active service. Return to the source and see it while you still can.